canadian girl travelling to Europe

1.
Posted bybrown_eyes(First Time Poster 1 posts) 12y
Star this if you like it!

Hey there, i'm am attempting to plan a trip in april 2006 for 2-3weeks to Italy. Well Italy is one place that i want to go and spend most of my time at...i think...esp. tuscany. Actually i don't know where i'm going or how to get there or between cities/countries. I have travelled before but never to europe and am really unfamiliar with how things work there. So i guess i'm looking for any information that anyone can give me on what cities to go to: what to see in the cities: places that are or aren't worth my time: how to get there: places to stay: basically any information. I'm just starting my research into planning my trip and am completely lost. I'm not looking at spending a fortune, i am on a budget, but want to see places and do things, i don't want to stay in a dump, a decent hostel or hotel similiar familiar cheap but clean, safe etc. as i will be travelling alone! I've been told i have to take the train or eurorail i think its called to other countries and to do it at nite to save on hotel exp. what does this eurorail cost? and what cities should i visit. I want to see lots but don't want to spend all my time sitting on a train or something....any info anyone can give me would be awesome.........i'm so excited about this trip but feel completely lost and just want to make the best of the 2-3 weeks that i have...thanx for the help.

2.
Posted bywouterrr(Travel Guru 3383 posts) 12y
Star this if you like it!

Have you bougth the Lonely Planet guidebook of Italy yet? Its the best detailled budget guidebook

3.
Posted bynickla(Respected Member 223 posts) 12y
Star this if you like it!

Hi,

www.hostelworld.com

is a good place to look at hostels. You can just type in the name of the place that u want to go and it will tell you about the availability and you can check out what other people who hvae stayed there thought of the place. Just a tip though, they do charge commission when booking so go to google first and search for the name of the place, as they will quite often have their own website, where you will not pay any commission.

Train travel is def the best way to get around europe. Check outhttp://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?ld=212.63&newrequest=yes&For train timetables throughout Europe, and http://www.railsaver.com/ to give u an idea about the eurail pass. Sometimes it is cheaper just to buy tickets as you go. This is especially true if you are only doing short journeys.

Also, dont necesarily think it will be cheaper to travel overnight. if you want something even vaguely comfortable, eg not ur actual seat, then you are going to have to pay for it on top of any pass you get. This, at least i found, was pften more expnsive than a night in a hostel. If you have long journeys then sometimes it does save u time to travel overnight as u dont waste a day, but i have had many a day ruined because i was just too tired after taking an overnght train to do any sight seeing the next day.